I don't recall anything about the 2011 Emmy Awards, but if there was a better performance in television series for that year, I can't imagine it being better than that of John Goodman in "Damages." Playing Howard T. Erickson, head of Top Star, the mercenary for hire group, he combines that inner depraved military passion with what he thinks is his patriotic duty. He balances religious family man with devil incarnate. He sees his ends to justify almost any means. He wants to protect America from danger and yet he is the danger. This episode begins the end game. Boorman is under surveillance now and Patty is getting the upper hand (at a great loss, by the way). Erickson goes to see Chris. Supposedly, swearing loyalty to a company is tantamount to doing so on your mother's grave. That loyalty is betrayed time after time. So because he is an "honorable" man, Erickson will visit his lost soul. The results don't work quite that well. The acting here is so good and the tension so visceral that this episode is, for me, the best one of this season. One character that does continue to be in over her head is Ellen Parsons. Patty uses the cards she has in every way and she dominates. Of course, a whole other issue at work is MIchael and his efforts to get his daughter away from Patty.
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